Various

Written on the Heart I liked J. Budziszewski’s emphasis on conscience as an active, rather than passive, force (“The Revenge of Conscience,” June/July). I want to take issue, though, with one point he makes early on concerning Paul’s so-called reference to natural law in . . . . Continue Reading »

Why Marriage Matters: Reasons to Believe in Marriage in PostModern Society. By Glenn T. Stantion. Piñon. 222 pages, $14. How many times have you heard it said that marriage is less risky if you live together first? That parents who can’t get along should divorce for the good of the kids? . . . . Continue Reading »

Arguing for Life Although Paul Swope ought to be commended for his interest in better communicating the pro-life message (“Abortion: A Failure to Communicate,” April), I believe his essay is flawed in at least two ways. First, Mr. Swope is mistaken in thinking that Americans in general . . . . Continue Reading »

Jews and the American Slave Trade. By Saul S. Friedman. Transaction. 326 pages, $34.95. After being been purged from American Christianity since the end of World War II, the practice of demonizing Jews is now more or less confined to fringe elements of the black community. Unfortunately, these . . . . Continue Reading »

On the Death Penalty I read James Nuechterlein’s essay “An Unwonted Uncertainty” (April) with appreciation of his intellectual uncertainty. As one who has studied and served in the fields of medicine, the military, and law enforcement, I would only carry his fine thoughts a little . . . . Continue Reading »

As a member of the Editorial Board of First Things since its inception, I protest the publication of David Klinghoffer’s “Anti-Semitism Without Anti-Semites” (April) . . . . The article is nothing less than evil”evil, not just misguided, because its intent is clearly to hurt, . . . . Continue Reading »

Huxley: From Devil’s Disciple to Evolution’s High Priest . By Adrian Desmond. Addison-Wesley. 848 pages, $37.50 . Thomas Henry Huxley more than earned his reputation as “Darwin’s Bulldog,” yet surprisingly he never fully accepted Darwin’s theory of natural . . . . Continue Reading »

Church and World That Robert Benne wonders (“The Neo-Augustinian Temptation,” March) why Stanley Hauerwas and friends write so glowingly about “ecclesial realities” is likely due to Mr. Benne’s deficient grasp of ecclesiology, which he characterizes as “that . . . . Continue Reading »

The Girard Reader . Edited by James G. Williams. Crossroad/Herder. 310 pages, $39.95 cloth, $19.95 paper. It is entirely possible that René Girard is one of the most important Christian thinkers now alive. It is certain that he is one of the most fascinating. In a biographical interview he . . . . Continue Reading »

Christianity, Judaism, and Anti-Semitism I was unsurprised by Richard John Neuhaus’ negative reaction to my book Please Don’t Wish Me a Merry Christmas: A Critical History of the Separation of Church and State (“On Not Permitting the Other to be Other,” Public Square, . . . . Continue Reading »